RismadarVoice Reporters
November 11, 2026
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to natural gas development, flare recovery and emissions reduction as central components of its energy transition strategy.
The company said the approach would support Nigeria’s efforts to reduce environmental pollution while maintaining energy security, encouraging industrial development and attracting investment.
NNPC’s Manager of Sustainability Strategy, Standards and Policy, Philemon Yilleng, disclosed this during a panel discussion on decarbonising Africa’s energy value chain at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, on Tuesday.
Yilleng explained that NNPC considers natural gas not only a transitional energy source but also a significant component of Nigeria’s long-term energy future.
He said the company was developing policies and partnerships to integrate environmental sustainability into its commercial operations.
According to him, NNPC is prioritising practical measures, including recovering gas currently being flared, reducing operational emissions and improving efficiency across its facilities.
He noted that the company’s decarbonisation strategy was guided by the Petroleum Industry Act and the need to balance environmental responsibilities with commercial viability and national energy requirements.
Yilleng also disclosed that NNPC had established an emissions measurement, reporting and verification framework to monitor its environmental performance.
He said the company was collaborating with regulators, joint venture partners and financial institutions to translate sustainability commitments into operational improvements.
However, he identified inadequate financing for gas infrastructure and development as a major challenge confronting Nigeria’s energy transition.
The NNPC official maintained that increased investment in gas could help expand electricity access, support industrialisation and strengthen economic development.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Carbon Limits, Stephanie Saunier, acknowledged progress in NNPC’s emissions monitoring framework over the past 12 to 18 months.
She nevertheless emphasised the importance of direct field measurements to improve the reliability of emissions data.
Similarly, Celina Evbuomwan of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority identified financing, technological limitations and inadequate infrastructure as obstacles to effective gas recovery.
She explained that insufficient infrastructure around production facilities continued to restrict opportunities to capture and utilise flared gas.
Although natural gas generally produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions than coal when burned, methane leakage and other emissions remain environmental concerns.
The discussions highlighted the importance of credible emissions monitoring, investment and infrastructure development in translating Nigeria’s energy transition commitments into measurable results.
